The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is taking steps to ensure that fans can safely enjoy KBO League baseball games during the summer heat.
On July 7, the ministry announced that Deputy Minister Kim Dae-hyun will visit Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon at 5:30 p.m. to inspect safety and convenience facilities at the stadium.
Accompanying him will be Park Jong-tae, CEO of the Hanwha Eagles; Park Jang-soon, chairman of the Sports Safety Foundation; Park Cheol-ho, CEO of Dong-A Otsuka; and Park Geun-chan, secretary general of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), who will listen to feedback from the field.
During the inspection, Deputy Minister Kim will conduct a thorough review of the stadium's interior and exterior, focusing on the readiness of facilities for heat-related issues, the operation of heat illness prevention campaign booths, and accessibility features for disabled spectators. He will also examine preparations for the revised National Sports Promotion Act aimed at eradicating ticket scalping and waste management strategies to create a pleasant viewing environment.
As the summer heat intensifies, the ministry is collaborating with the Sports Safety Foundation and Dong-A Otsuka to launch a nationwide campaign to prevent heat-related illnesses. Public service advertisements highlighting the importance of heat illness prevention during sports activities will be broadcast on 47 private electronic billboards across the country, as well as on stadium screens.
On-site training and support will also be enhanced. The ministry plans to conduct heat illness prevention training for 1,500 event organizers over 20 sessions and provide 7,000 prevention checklists. Additionally, safety education booths will be set up at large sports events for over 30,000 participants, offering guidance on proper hydration and safety experiences. The campaign will also utilize social media for online events and distribute card news to maximize its impact.
Deputy Minister Kim stated, "Summer poses a heightened risk of safety incidents during sports activities and viewing due to extreme heat. We will meticulously address even the smallest risks at the venues and work closely with relevant agencies to establish a proactive safety management system to ensure the public can enjoy sports with peace of mind."
Meanwhile, the KBO League is on track to surpass 10 million spectators for the third consecutive year, continuing its strong performance this season. According to the KBO, as of June 30, the league recorded a cumulative attendance of 7,013,844, surpassing the 7 million mark.
The KBO League achieved this milestone in just 388 games, setting a record for the fewest games to reach 7 million spectators, beating last year's record of 405 games by 17 games. Notably, this is the first time that professional baseball has exceeded 7 million spectators before 400 games in a season that has already attracted over 10 million fans in 2024 and 2025.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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